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'Chilling Effect' of Mass Surveillance Is Silencing Dissent Online, Study Says (vice.com)
An anonymous reader quotes a Motherboard article: Research suggests that widespread awareness of mass surveillance could undermine democracy by making citizens fearful of voicing dissenting opinions in public. A paper published in Journalism and Mass Communication Quarterly, the flagship peer-reviewed journal of the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication (AEJMC), found that "the government's online surveillance programs may threaten the disclosure of minority views and contribute to the reinforcement of majority opinion." The NSA's "ability to surreptitiously monitor the online activities of U.S. citizens may make online opinion climates especially chilly" and "can contribute to the silencing of minority views that provide the bedrock of democratic discourse," the researcher found.
Mass government and commercial surveillance already have a massive chilling effect on speech online. Employers check your online presence and commentary for controversial issues; I can't believe the security clearance process doesn't do the same thing. Many people I know avoid making many political comments online precisely because of this.
This becomes more true as you enter fields intelligent people who understand policy may enter, such as law, finance, etc...
Go onto any college campus and commit a microagression. That'll shut things down real quick, no mass surveillance required.
AntiFA: An abbreviation for Anti First Amendment.
I was just having a conversation about this the other night with some friends. I said, "That's why I don't comment about a lot of stuff. It may be that one day all of those tweets and facebook comments will get sifted through, and someone may decide all you guys need to be in concentration camps." I was half-way joking... but only half-way. It certainly is chilling.
It's not just mass surveillance, however. Social media being what it is, everyone is one bad joke away from becoming the pariah du jour, losing their job, and having their entire life ruined.
Proverbs 21:19
Dissent online is very, very much alive. Go to the comments section of any website and you will see loud, proud, sometimes articulate, occasionally constructive, and frequently genuinely angry dissent and dissatisfaction with the status quo and especially the bullshit peddled by those running it.
Most of it is periodically scrubbed, censored, banned and shadowbanned by increasingly ideological moderators on media and "social media" websites up and down the internet.
The internet should eb a forum for free discussion, but instead we have a class, a new social class of moderators, community managers, and media manipulators whose function is to turn the internet into a giant propaganda machine.
Note that this function is independent, but not exclusive of the function of other groups to turn the internet into a panopticon. But the critical distinction here is that you can spy and snoop all you want, but if you want to shut people up who really want to speak their mind, you must have muscle and manpower in the right locations to shut them down by fiat.
Call them "socialists", "terrorists", "trolls", "misogynists", "islamists", "bigots" or "radicals". The name doesn't matter; the result is just to shut down free assembly of any kind on this increasingly disillusioning network. "Moderation", or what has come to pass for it, is the real silencing force on today's web.
Under the guise of protecting the U.S., I'm sure plenty of well-intention ed people are serving their roles in NSA, FBI, Congress, etc. that in the short run are trying to protect, but in the long run are undermining our values. This is very dangerous and troubling for our future.
>> widespread awareness of mass surveillance could undermine democracy by making citizens fearful of voicing dissenting opinions in public
That's part of it, but the bigger part is that many people see how something stupid or controversial someone says now could bite them in the ass twenty years from now. That exact thing is playing out now with a state supreme court justice in Wisconsin (http://www.jsonline.com/news/rebecca-bradley-called-gays-queers-who-opted-to-kill-themselves-b99682686z1-371276861.html), but I think it will probably be 10x bigger in ten years when even more people's careers or positions in their communities get torpedoed by drunk/ignorant comments they put on Facebook before they grew up.
That plays out into political speech too - I'd say MOST people are afraid to sign their name to their beliefs today, not because they don't want to be challenged, but because someone could try to nuke them for speaking their mind down the road. (e.g., http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2014/04/04/mozilla-ceo-resignation-free-speech/7328759/ or http://www.nationalreview.com/article/417155/wisonsins-shame-i-thought-it-was-home-invasion-david-french)
FWIW, it's also part of the reason for Trump's popularity - I think a lot of his supporters remember a time when you could speak your mind without getting fired/sued/ruined because someone thought you were "microaggressing" or not supporting the right cause at the right time, and they identify with him as a politically incorrect old schooler.
What idiots are using their real names and putting in valid contact info?
The article talks about NSA surveillance. You really think a fake name is going to fool the NSA???
If I can be modded down for being a troll, can I be modded up for being an orc, or a balrog?
What idiots are using their real names and putting in valid contact info?
A lot of sites make you use your real name, or link to Google+ or Facebook.
Sure, but I'd wager that hyper-sensitivity towards minority viewpoints is FAR more affected by the social effect of "political correctness" rather than than literal "political correctness" from a government body as an independent entity (unless the government is responding to specific social pressures, which is then a failure of 1st Amendment enforcement).
If you're plotting to overthrow the government, then yes there's a "chilling effect" if you know the FBI is listening in. That's debatably/arguably a good thing. If you have a mere "minority opinion" and you're hoping to engage in democratic discourse you have far more to fear from SJWs.
Hell, Proposition 8 was a majority opinion in 2008 and Brendan Eich still got fired for it.
Hire a Linux system administrator, systems engineer,
Just saying.
Don't say I didn't warn you.
-- Tigger warning: This post may contain tiggers! --
That's Awful. This country (at least in recent years) has been built on giving the the whinny 3-5% everything that they cry about. It has made this country what it is now.
I'm an American. I love this country and the freedoms that we used to have.
The article was nice.
Um, you mean *wish*. They cannot make you use your real name. Any who doesn't have a fake Facebook profile at this point?
Exactly.
[redacted] needs to understand that [redacted] and [redacted] are threatening our [redacted].
These are sobering findings.
Without the use of [redacted] and [redacted] to [redacted] for the [redacted] of [redacted], then [redacted] is certainly [redacted] to [redacted].
Precisely, the nutters are the only ones crazy enough to use their free speech rights anymore.
I appreciate the taste of paranoia as much as anyone.
Less so when it is salted with too many words like "could" and "may."
widespread awareness of mass surveillance could undermine democracy by making citizens fearful of voicing dissenting opinions in public.
the government's online surveillance programs may threaten the disclosure of minority views and contribute to the reinforcement of majority opinion
The NSA's ability to surreptitiously monitor the online activities of U.S. citizens may make online opinion climates especially chilly
It struck me that if minority views are not disclosed they --- for all practical purposes --- do not exist. The majority holds the floor uncontested. It also struck me that the kind of group think that prevails in many online forums makes the NSA quite irrelevant.
I find it very depressing that even here on Slashdot where the readership is apparently meant to be more "deep thinking" than the average, if you post anything that questions current mainstream thinking, no matter how polite, rational, justifiable and sincere your post is, you will inevitably incur the obligatory crop of -1 troll moderations.
If you are one of those people that moderates rational, polite posts as "-1 Troll" just because it is making a point that is contrary to your own beliefs, you need to realize what you are actually saying about yourself.
...nevermind.
Alex, I'll take keybindings not used by Emacs for $400....
There are private companies already keeping tabs on things you say, tying that to your credit score, creating profiles for you and figuring out your real identity, mapping that to your physical address and then calculating your "threat score" then selling that information to law enforcement. This is so much more invasive and complete than your future employer browsing your twitter or facebook posts. Here is a WaPo article detailing one such system actively in use today. http://wapo.st/1TOtLhC Everyone crying conspiracy/tin foil beanie is only enabling this tech to proliferate. A couple years ago people who knew about Stingray were called paranoid...a couple years before Snowden people who pointed out the NSA's abuse of power were too. At this point I am pretty sure the denial is a self defense mechanism because the reality is too scary for most people to accept.
"All those moments, will be lost in time...like tears in rain..."
Facebook, Twitter and your friends are a million times more guilty of this than any government agency. Technology and culture destroyed privacy and free speech well before the government was given half a chance.
Troll is not a replacement for I disagree.
All along I've just been assuming that mass surveillance "contribute(s) to the silencing of minority views" and "undermine(s) democracy", to the point where TFA is about the equivalent of the statement "water is wet". The question I struggle with is "did the authors of these policies and mechanisms foresee this outcome and purposely work towards it, or did they just get lucky"? Not that it much matters though, because the outcome is the same regardless; but it would be nice to know how clever and foresightful the enemy really is when the peasants finally do revolt.
'The Economy' is a giant Ponzi scheme whose most pitiable suckers are the youngest among us and the yet-unborn.
Personally, I've gotten pretty tired of listening to the rants of Malheur Wildlife Refuge Occupier supporters and even Racists for Trump online, and I wish they'd get a clue that government agencies are hoovering up all the crap they post online, and WILL use it to make a case against them should they ever piss off the wrong people. We need to remind people of their 5th Amendment rights: You have a right to remain silent, anything you say online can and will be used against you!
I've abandoned my search for truth; now I'm just looking for some useful delusions.
Make all politicians carry bodycams 24/7? That's sounds like a great idea, especially when you consider the fact that politicians always know where the best strip clubs are!
I've abandoned my search for truth; now I'm just looking for some useful delusions.
If the "minority" views are silenced, how can you be so sure they aren't actually in the majority?
Quite. "Expressing minority opinions" equals "trolling", in the modern parlance, and a lot of people quite seriously try to argue that should be illegal in its own right.
Not quite, no. Expressing insane ideas without recognizing any possibility that you might be wrong or willingness to engage in legitimate discussion, while going on for pages about why you are right in a way which totally misses the thread of argument is considered trolling if it ALSO is in not in approximate agreement with the majority opinion.
For example, if you insist vaccines cause autism but express willingness to be proven wrong and squarely address points raised to prove you wrong, you are not usually a troll. But if you insist you are right despite all of the evidence to the contrary and go on for dozens of posts, you are a troll.
Those sites, including Facebook, only say that they want the real name. They value the traffic more than enforcing the policy. The only time Facebook cares about someone not using their real name is when someone else complains.
Because all the Wells Fargo Bank employees I know are gay? (Ok, I don't know very many Well Fargo Bank employees...)
I've abandoned my search for truth; now I'm just looking for some useful delusions.
On of the left's "chilling effect" canards is actually real?
So when Il Duce Trump gets into power, he's going to round up all the people like me who called him a moron online, and put them all in concentration camps? Yeah, that is pretty chilling...
I've abandoned my search for truth; now I'm just looking for some useful delusions.
it might make them listen because even though i am hard with my opinion i am truthful,.
as we all know the government is just middle managers for the real power behind the throne which is the global banking cartel with the military-industrial-complex as the muscle enforcing the desires of the BIG monied elite, thats why i say it does not matter who gets elected president because the monied elite is not going to let a president and an election by a bunch of filthy unwashed peasants change the status-quo
Politics is Treachery, Religion is Brainwashing
Buy a lot of books online with your CC, ip.
Libertarian philosophies, survivalist literature, self-sufficiency, economic collapse, book of Revelation, the ever expanding role of big government, civil liberties.
Mention ongoing whistleblower news and list the project names surrounding the NSA's tasking tools, correlation and selectors. MAINWAY, IRONMAN ect.
Read local news about any events, anti war protests, campaigns with a US foreign policy connection, public meetings. Local government having a public hearing or seeking public comments?
Turn up, ensure your cell phone is always on. Be seen around the area. Get out that old, larger DSLR camera. Before, after and during the event. Walk around the event with a cell phone, park your vehicle near the event and try to interact with anyone handing out event pamphlets. Wonder around so any surveillance teams can get a good image for facial recognition.
Ensure your cell phone is tracked around the area and your vehicle registration enters a database. A few new libertarian bumper stickers bought online with a CC is always useful to make your vehicle stand out to any level of gov.
Ensure any city or state task force reports you to the local Fusion center https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/... for long term federal consideration.
When online try and use as many politically interesting search terms as possible everyday on the big brand search sites that collaborate so well with big gov. Fill any posts, blogs with political or keywords relating to emerging signals intelligence over the years.
Shape your own gov paperwork and help your state and federal workers create a vast digital dossier on your own terms.
Enjoy the later state or federal chatdown and post it to any good first amendment audit site.
Your federal and state gov has spent so much on its new workers and databases, why not participate and help create gov jobs.
Just enjoying the First amendment every weekend could ensure years of full employment for teams of private sector contractors watching you.
Domestic spying is now "Benign Information Gathering"
My experience on the internet is that it is not currently an issue.
There are too many idiots ranting about their personal version of the tinfoil hat. Therefore, there has been no chilling effect on the internet.
excitingthingstodo.blogspot.com
There are points of view that in 2016 can get you fired, get angry mobs outside your house, and so forth, but I'm not sure that they are the points of view that you think they are.
I've personally lost 2 fake name accounts on Facebook. I live in an ultra-conservative state governed by a majority conservative religious electorate (Utah), and I personally hold some liberal views. I changed my Facebook account from my real name, to a fake name years ago specifically to stop any potential employers from seeing any of my social media activity (even with stringent privacy settings) and then causing me employment issues. On two separate occasions Facebook shutdown my fake name accounts, so I just don't use Facebook anymore.
... I welcome our voyeuristic overlords.
Have gnu, will travel.
On two separate occasions Facebook shutdown my fake name accounts, so I just don't use Facebook anymore.
That's wierd, I've never had any problem with obviously fake accounts on Facebook. Back when I played FFXI I had profiles for each of my characters without issue. I never did get around to making a real account, probably never will.
Ask any Arab-american or American Muslim how comfortable they feel about voicing any sort of political opinion online (even via private messaging).
This is our future.
One can only feel ordinary human empathy for the citizens of those countries which operate a democratic system.
Requiem for the American Dream
Beliefs that you profess to hold but are unable to accept the consequences of are not really beliefs, now are they? They're conveniences.
Sorry if that hurts but if you really held the views you profess to hold then you'd be willing to accept the consequences of holding and expressing those views. Beliefs that one is willing to be castigated for are truly held beliefs. The rest are just things you tell yourself to make yourself feel good about yourself or, perhaps, myriad other reasons.
Yes, yes that is a pep talk. Put your name behind the views and accept the consequences. You'll feel better about yourself - even if you're hungry, homeless, and friendless.
You needn't listen. It's okay. It's a way to feel liberated and happier with yourself - if you want to take that route. It might not be a wise move if you have others that you're responsible for. Though, today, it's probably not as terrible as you seem to think it is but you're surely more familiar with the local environment so you'd probably be able to guess better than I - it just seems a bit unlikely.
Me? Well, I'm David and I've not only had /. users at my current abode just recently, I've had them visit my home in Maine more than once and met others in their locale. Someone appropriately dedicated could probably find me without enlisting the aid of the NSA. On the other hand, I don't have a Facebook account but I'd be fooling myself if I said I didn't have any social media accounts. Slashdot is, for example, a social media site - even though a few of us like to deny it.
At any rate, a truly held belief is one which one is willing to accept the consequences for holding. The rest are just things you tell yourself for whatever reasons you have. I'd assume they're to make you feel better - it's hard to imagine why you'd tell yourself things to feel worse. Would you have said nothing when they came for the Jews or would you have expressed your dissent and accepted the consequences? Would you have risked hiding them or would you have quietly pointed when they came looking?
"So long and thanks for all the fish."
> Sedition really is a crime.
Should it be?
"So long and thanks for all the fish."
Unless you also log into that profile (so their bots pick up the right cookie when you visit other places) they still have an "anonymous" profile on you.
On two separate occasions Facebook shutdown my fake name accounts, so I just don't use Facebook anymore.
That's wierd, I've never had any problem with obviously fake accounts on Facebook. Back when I played FFXI I had profiles for each of my characters without issue. I never did get around to making a real account, probably never will.
They shut down or "investigate" accounts after someone "outs" you.
If you don't get into heated arguments with others on Facebook, or never post things / pictures that get flagged by a human in the first layer of auditing they don't notice you. I.e. if you post a carrot that looks like a pussy, the low paid third worlder will flag it for a higher paid person to look at. If your carrots look like carrots, you never get that treatment.
Also, pick a fake name that sounds real enough.
Do we have a clear example of someone who posted an perfect legal opinion and got into trouble with the government because of that. Snowden doesn't count. The issue with him is not his opinion but the leakage of confidential documents (whether you approve of his actions or not).
Yes why I post without using my ID I have on here. You do have a point about employers. Not long ago I got invited to a security conference which the FBI was going to be talk at. Where I work was one of the sponsors. Work knows my opinion on things. Well my boss ask me not to say anything or ask any questions to the FBI if I went my questions might be too "upsetting" to the FBI. So I didn't go. So here is a case of an expert in the field of security silenced because of his views on the subject. My boss I know agrees with me on my opinions on surveillance and encryption but still I was told "not to rock the boat".
Welcome to Nazi Amerika home of free speech as long as to tow the party line.
Home of the free and the brave? Not any more.
We are a country full of pussies now.
capcha: outcast
Yea I guess that's me!
I've been thinking about it since I posted it. Another AC responded as well. I'll just reply to one of you and hopefully they'll see it.
With a few things, there's something called an "Affirmative Defense." It's basically, "I did it, and it was just." Assuming the motives where just and the government's behavior sufficiently egregious then is a coup really not the right course of action? Is not advocating and/or acting against tyranny the proper choice?
Then again, perhaps that we're even discussing this means that this study's conclusion is flawed. I don't know? I've never once felt compelled to curb my speech for the purpose of impressing or because of fear of repercussions. I'm unlikely to change that.
"So long and thanks for all the fish."